Meta will implement parental controls for children's interactions with AI chatbots starting in 2026, allowing parents to disable individual chats, but not the AI assistant.

Meta will add parental controls for children's interactions with AI chatbots starting in 2026, giving parents the option to disable individual chats with AI characters. However, the AI assistant will remain active to provide useful and educational information, with age-appropriate protections in place. Parents will be able to obtain information about their children's discussions with chatbots, but will not have access to the full conversations.

These changes come in the context of criticism regarding the negative impact of Meta's platforms on children. Additionally, Meta has announced restrictions for teenage accounts on Instagram, limiting access to PG-13 content. Child advocacy groups have expressed skepticism about these measures, considering them more of a reaction to legislative pressure than a real solution for children's online safety.